Protective method employing protective garment having outer shell of low visibility and detachable trim of high visibility

ABSTRACT

In a method for protecting a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, several strips of reflective trim of high visibility are attached detachably to an outer shell of low visibility, as by hook-and-loop fasteners or snap fasteners, so that the trim can be readily detached from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/428,738, which was filed on May 2, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention pertains to a protective method employing a protective garment, such as a coat, trousers, overalls, or coveralls, for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker. This invention contemplates that the protective garment has an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility and that the protective garment has detachable trim of high visibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Protective garments for firefighters and emergency workers include coats, trousers, overalls, and coveralls. Currently, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards require a protective garment for a firefighter to have reflective trim, which enhances the visibility of the protective garment and, therefore, the visibility of its wearer under smoke-laden and other adverse conditions. Generally, reflective trim is affixed by sewing, adhesively, or otherwise, and cannot be readily detached.

[0004] However, for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker operating where a tactical operation has developed or is expected to develop, a need for low visibility may override a need for high visibility. Heretofore, a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker may have to be issued two types of protective garments, i.e., protective garments to be worn in a tactical operation, in which the need for low visibility overrides the need for high visibility, and protective garments to be worn otherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention provides a method for protecting a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, which method comprises providing the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker with a protective garment having an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility, the protective garment having trim of high visibility, the trim being attached to the outer shell so as to be readily detachable from the outer shell.

[0006] This invention also provides a method for protecting a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, which method is practiced by the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker and comprises wearing such a protective garment.

[0007] In either instance, if a tactical situation, in which a need for low visibility overrides a need for high visibility, develops or is expected to develop, the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker wearing the protective garment with the trim of high visibility, can detach the trim from the outer shell.

[0008] Preferably, in either instance, the trim is attached to the outer shell so as to be readily detachable from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective coat embodying this invention, having an outer shell of low visibility without reflective trim, and having several strips of reflective trim of high visibility, which are attached detachably to the outer shell.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a similar view of the protective coat, in which those strips of reflective trim were attached detachably to the outer shell by hook-and-loop fasteners, in which all but one of those strips of reflective trim have been detached from the outer shell, and in which one of those strips of reflective trim is being detached from the outer shell.

[0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail taken from FIG. 2, as and where outlined and indicated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a similar detail illustrating snap fasteners, as alternative means for attaching a strip of reflective trim detachably to the outer shell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 1, protective coat 10 for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker has an outer shell 20 of low visibility without trim of high visibility and has multiple strips 30 of reflective trim of high visibility, which are attached detachably to the outer shell 20. Preferably, the outer shell 20 has a dark or neutral color or has camouflage, so as to have low visibility. The protective coat may have an inner liner or inner liners, not illustrated, which provide a moisture barrier, thermal protection, or both.

[0013] Except as illustrated and described herein, the protective coat 10 is similar to protective coats available commercially from Morning Pride Manufacturing, L.L.C. of Dayton, Ohio, and form other sources. Such strips of reflective trim of high visibility are available commercially from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minn., and from other sources.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each strip 30 of reflective trim is attached detachably to the outer shell 20 by a hook-and-loop fastener 40, in which a hook-faced strip 42 is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 and a loop-faced strip 44 is sewn or affixed otherwise to said strip 30 of reflective trim. Alternatively, which the loop-faced strip 44 is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 and the hook-faced strip 42 is sewn or affixed otherwise to said strip 30 of reflective trim. Whichever strip 42, 44, is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 has a dark or neutral color or has camouflage, so as to have low visibility.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, each strip 30 of reflective trim is attached detachably to the outer shell 20 by snap fastener 50, in each of which a male element 52 is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 and a female element 54 is sewn or affixed otherwise to said strip 30 of reflective trim. Alternatively, the female element 54 is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 and the male element 52 is sewn or affixed otherwise to said strip 30 of reflective trim. Whichever element 52, 54, is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 is made of a non-shiny, polymeric material or, if made of a metal, has a non-shiny, exterior finish. so as to have low visibility.

[0016] In a tactical operation, in which the need for low visibility overrides the need for high visibility, a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker may wear the protective coat 10 without the strips 30 of reflective trim of high visibility. Otherwise, the firefighter or emergency worker may wear the protective coat 10 with the strips 30 of reflective trim of high visibility. If a tactical operation develops or is expected to develop while a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker is wearing the protective garment 10 with the shell 20 of high visibility facing outwardly, the firefighter or emergency worker may have an opportunity to detach the strips 30 of reflective trim of high visibility. 

1. A method for protecting a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, which method comprises providing the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker with a protective garment having an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility, the protective garment having trim of high visibility, the trim being attached to the outer shell so as to be readily detachable from the outer shell, whereby if a tactical situation, in which a need for low visibility overrides a need for high visibility, develops or is expected to develop, the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker wearing the protective garment with the trim of high visibility, can detach the trim from the outer shell.
 2. A method for protecting a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, which method comprises providing the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker with a protective garment having an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility, the protective garment having trim of high visibility, the trim being attached to the outer shell so as to be readily detachable from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim, whereby if a tactical situation, in which a need for low visibility overrides a need for high visibility, develops or is expected to develop, the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker wearing the protective garment with the trim of high visibility, can detach the trim from the outer shell.
 3. A method for protecting a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, which method is practiced by the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker and comprises wearing a protective garment having an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility, the protective garment having trim of high visibility, the trim being attached to the outer shell so as to be readily detachable from the outer shell, whereby if a tactical situation, in which a need for low visibility overrides a need for high visibility, develops or is expected to develop, the military or 6 paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker wearing the protective garment with the trim of high visibility, can detach the trim from the outer shell.
 4. A method for protecting a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, which method is practiced by the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker and comprises wearing a protective garment having an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility, the protective garment having trim of high visibility, the trim being attached to the outer shell so as to be readily detachable from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim, whereby if a tactical situation, in which a need for low visibility overrides a need for high visibility, develops or is expected to develop, the military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker wearing the protective garment with the trim of high visibility, can detach the trim from the outer shell. 